Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
Hi.
So I upgraded to Sierra yesterday morning.
Time Machine has been stuck since.
It's stuck on 'Preparing Backup'.
It's been about 18 hours.
At what point should I worry? And suggestions on a fix?
Don
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)
I have upgraded to Sierra. Since then, the capsule stopped working as hard drive with my machine. It does not even show up in the finder. I have no problem to connect to it with an old mac. Something is going on
Hi.
I followed the procedures for resetting things last night and then went to bed.
My Time Machine still says 'Preparing Backup'.
Don
Hi Don,
I solved my problem (see above)...
Perhaps that helps...
I noticed that in Console (typing "backupd" in the search box/"diagnoses and user-info") many lines with "backupd" in it.
In never saw this in previous OS X-versions - see also this question/thread of mine...How can I see Time Machine activity in Console with macOS Sierra.
Could it be that after updating to Sierra Time Machine is indexing the whole Time Machine-disk and this is the reason it takes forever?
It would be helpful to know what Time Machine is doing all this time...
A few years ago "pondini", who is king in solving Time Machine-troubles, was very active in "Apple Support Communities". He even has his own website concerning Time Machine... http://pondini.org
He did not update his website for a few years now...
His troubleshooting was very helpful to me then...
Were are the multilevel-experts?
Hi.
I tried starting and stopping several times. Nothing.
I got back with Apple and they have me in Safe Mode now trying to start a backup.
It's not working yet.
Don
HI.
Apple is having be reinstall Sierra.
Safe mode did not do anything.
Don
Wow!
That *****!
You're not the only one who has problems with TM since updating to Sierra.
😟
Again...
It would be nice to see (in Console) what TM is doing.
Anyone? - multilevel experts???
Succes Don!
When I booted in recovery mode my only choice was to install Lion.
IM on with Apple Support again trying to figure out how to install Sierra on top of itself.
Ugh
Don
reboot your Mac, - hold Command+R keys (till after the "boing-restart-sound" and you see the Apple-logo).
Wait for dialogue-box to appear.
Make sure your wifi is active, on the right above in menu-bar (it could be you need the password of your internet-modem)
Then install macOS Sierra again (you need to type in your Apple-ID with password).
This is the way you install on top of your existing macOS.
HI.
i Did that and my only choice was to install Lion which is very old. I called support and they DO NOT install Lion.
THey are having me download Sierra from regular boot mode. From the Apple Store
Don
Sorry, -
...it seems you're stuck.
Hope you're not in a loop now...
You don't have an old TM-copy (recent date) to restore your whole iMac to the (old) previous state anymore?
Your profile states you're Mac was on Lion, - correct?.
It seems to me that upgrading from Lion to Sierra could be the problem.
If you had El Capitan (10.11) I don't understand why you only have the option to install Lion (10.07).
Succes Don.
HI.
I was running El Capitan. Isn't that weird that only Lion would install?
so I downloaded Sierra again from the App Store. but there is no option to install it.
im on the phone with Apple again for help
ugh
don
HI.
apple support has connected me to senior support services. They are reaching out to engineering for help.
they think it might be a thinning issue, whatever that is...
Don
Hi.
They told me NOT to reinstall Sierra and to send them Capture Data to forward to engineering.
The Capture Data program isn't working.
They emailed engineering asking them how to proceed.
He said it might take a few days to get back to me.
Until then I have no backup.
Ugh!
Don
I'm getting this:
I delete the file from the desktop and it bounces back.
ugh.
Don
About "mkdir") from macrumors/guides: http://guides.macrumors.com/mkdir
Strange that you mac creates a tmp-file (temporary file) on your desktop.
It seems something is seriously wrong - why does your Mac automatically create a directory by putting a file on your desktop? Strange...
Did you restore permissions on your harddisk and also TM-disk? - restart in recovery-mode by restarting using Command+R and then choosing Disk-repair and run it on those disks for best result.
If everything fails you could copy all of your important files to an external disk and go for a clean install...
I see no other solution.
I mailed "pondini" via his website a few hours ago...
He hasn't responded yet...
On his website he states: "I do not answer specific questions or problems via e-mail; only in the ASC forums",
- but I asked him anyway...
http://pondini.org/TM/Contact.html
Hi “pondini”,
Hope all is well…
Now macOS Sierra has arrived some people have Time Machine-troubles.
see thread (example) https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7677444?answerId=30688752022#30688752022&start=0&tstart=0
Hope to see you back in the Apple-forums.
You’re surely missed.
Compliments for all you have done in the past.
Sorry for my poor English.
Best regards,
Jur Kuipers, The Netherlands
Sierra and Time Machine
